Hi Mark,
I don't know for sure, but because you were laid off, you might be able to collect State Disability Insurance.  I collected it in the 70's after I'd been laid off from a job and landed in the hospital, but between the layoff and the illness, I'd been collecting Unemployment Insurance.  The State Disability Program was, at that time and may still be a part of the Unemployment Office.  I may not have that exactly correct, but suffice it to say, check both with your doctor, who will have the proper form to fill out - and it's a simple form that only s/he has to complete, and submit.  State disability actually pays more than Unemployment and there may not be much, if any of a waiting period like there is with Unemployment Insurance.  The doctor just has to say how long s/he thinks you will be disabled and the maximum is 1 year.  You can apply for Social Security Disability in the meantime and hopefully, not have much of a lag time. 

Also, you might want to consider applying for Medi-Cal before even applying for Social Security.  Even though they follow the same regulations and requirements as SSDI/SSI and you may have to go through an appeals process, it could be well worth it, because, at least then, you'd have some kind of medical insurance while you're waiting for the SSDI/SSI to come through.

When I was collecting State Disability, I was not allowed to apply for SSDI/SSI until after I'd received my last State Disabil. check, but I've heard from people since then, that you no longer have to wait; that you can apply for SSDI/SSI while still collecting State Disabil.

If worse comes to worse and you need some health care, there's always SF General and possibly other city clinics that could be of some help to you.  Keep looking and don't give up.

I hope this helps, and good luck to you.

Deborah



At 10:31 AM 10/3/2007, you wrote:

Hello,

I was diagnosed with CFS/CFIDS/FM in the 80's and did not work for 8 years. I had some
savings then and paid for my own health insurance which was only around $300 at the time
and I could afford it. I seemed to improve and was able to work for a while but never felt
100%. I came to San Francisco and worked in the dot-com/hi-tech industry and was laid off
twice and was unemployed for over a year. I lived through all my savings. I got a job at a
small liberal arts college and they let me work from home a few days a week and that
seemed to work for a couple of years but my health worsened. Then, I got laid off again.
Now, they want $700 for COBRA and I can't pay it. I'm told I'm one of those who "falls
through the cracks" and doesn't qualify for any insurance, although San Francisco is opening
up a pilot health insurance program for everyone in January 2008...in three months. But I
can't live for 3 months without meds, and I don't think I can work.

Does anyone know of any insurance that will cover me? I'm 54 and have other pre-existing
conditions. They say there is no insurance that will cover me. Are they wrong?

Mark

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